Washing machine agitator



Seegae 209 1949e N. L.. ETTEN WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR A; sheets-sheet l' Filed Aug. 30, 3,9%@

Sept. 20, 1949. N. L.. ETTEN 2,482,253

WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR Filed Aug. 30, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ASN,

n o B3 Sept. 20, 1949. N. L. ETTEN WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR Filed Ag. 30, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 20, 1949. N. L. ETTEN 2,482,253

WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR Filed Aug. 30, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 d' i .l D. /7 /INVNTOIL @AMM/Th2; @frye/Qi".

Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNITED s'rpfrssJ PATENT ,OFFICER WASHING MACHINE AGITATOR Nicholas L. Etten, Waterloo, iowa Application August 30, 1945, Serial No. 613,666

This invention relates to a domestic washing machine of the regular tub type incorporating cooperative mechanisms for rst carrying out the washing operation and secondly to spin the tub and its contents to spin dry the washed clothes.

It is one of the main objects of the washing machine of the present invention to provide an agitator within the connes of the washing tub that operates to produce a bellows action within the tub water to direct water currents in predetermined directions to aid the agitator in the washing of the clothes.

Another object of the above described structure is to provide a bellows unit that deilnitely produces a water agitating action in conjunction with the directed water currents of the above noted type. y

Another object of the present invention is to provide the mechanical unit that is herein embodied within the confines of the tub to perform the actions described and which includes further mechanism to cause bodily rotation of the entire unit upon the axial center line of the washing machine tub.

A further object of the washing machine of the present invention is to provide an agitating and water current developing unit of the type described which is entirely driven and actuated from mechanism housed and disposed complete within the confines of such a bellows unit. In this manner, the entire mechanism is housed within the tub proper and is pivotally carried on suitable bearings permitting the entry of a drive shaft into the interior of the bellows unit for actuating the mechanism confined within the operable head comprising the bellows agitating and water current producing unit.

Amongst other objects, it is another feature of this invention to produce a drive arranged for independently actuating the bellows unit head and its associated mechanisms and to also incorporate a dual drive for the purpose of permitting the drive from the same source to provide the power for spinning the entire tub to spin dry the clothes that have been washed therein.

Certain other objects of the present invention are to produce several modied arrangements to obtain a water propelling action for the purpose of slowly rotating the agitatingA unit within the tub and -upon the axial center line thereof.

16 Claims. (Cl. 68-53) All other objects and advantages shall hereinafter appear in the following detailed explanation thereof having reference to the several figures disclosed in the accompanying drawrings forming a part oi this specication.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a general vertical cross sectional view through a preferred embodiment of wash# ing machineincorporating the principles relating to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical axial cross sectional view of the bellows agitator and the associated bearing structures adjacent thereto;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bellows type agitator shown in Fig. 2;

1 Fig. 4 is an end view of the bellows agitator as it appears when viewed from the left in Fig. 3, the opposite end being a duplicate as the agitator is built symmetrically;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the main housing unit of the bellows agitator;

Fig. 6 is a general side view of a modified construction of agitator utilizing a dierent means to cause axial rotation of the entire unit upon its pivotally supported mountings in the tub bottom;

Fig. 'I is a horizontal cross sectional view of the agitator of Fig. 6 as seen along the line 1-1 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross sectional view of another modification of bellows type agitator illustrating a still different arrangement of housing therefor for the purpose of producing bodily rotation thereof during the agitating action.

It should be apparent at this time from the objects hereinbefore presented and the description of the gures that the present washing machine incorporates a novel agitator having dual means for producing directional dispersion of water currents that definitely eect the movement of the clothes within the tub, such current acting in combination with a deinite water agitating action produce by the bellows or movable aps of the agitator; most of the aforesaid combined wash-ing features being incorporated lin a bellows head unit that revolves bodily producing a 360 sphere of action within the cylindrical column of water within the tub `of the present wash-` ing machine. Furthermore, all of these actions inherent in the constructions herein disclosed and described ananas can be terminated at the end of the washing period prescribed and thereafter the tub drained. Manual control means are employed thereafter so that the tub can be driven from the same source of power that operated the agitatlng unit which power source can now be directed to revolve the washing tub to spin dry the clothes therein.

Referring to Fig. l. the machine comprises,`in general, a supporting base I adapted for housing the washing machine power drive mechanisms 2 that are driven from the motor 3 supported from the base. A drain tub 4 is mounted upon the upper peripheral edge of the base I and is stationary with respect thereto, while a movable tub 5 nests within the stationary drain tub and is suitable mounted for pivotal spinning rotation upon the vertical ax'ial center of the washing machine. A lid 8 provided with a peripheral gasket I is adapted to rest upon a circumferential rim 8 formed at the upper edge of the drain tub 4. All of thevforegoing described closure means are for preventing water from spilling out of the washing machine and are formed and arranged particularly for that purpose. The position of the lid gasket and the peripheral seal 8 formed at the upper end of the drain tub 4 are located to prevent centrifugally discharged water and suds from leaving the entire tub enclosure during the dry spinning operation of the tub 5. The upper edge of the tub 5 is suitably beaded or otherwise formed as at 9 and spaced below the parting line between the lid 6 and the tub 4 so that all of the centrifugally discharged water will be directed against the vertical side portion of the tub 4 and suitably drained therefrom to the bottom of the tub.

lThe bottom of the tub 4 is provided with a relatively large discharge duct or conduit I having a suitable valve II controlled by the valve handle I2 located externally of the base I. Conduit I0 is sufliciently large primarily for the purpose of permitting quick draining of the expelled water from within the spinner tub and also to permit the passage of small articles of 45 clothing which should by accident nd their way over the top of the bead 9 of the spinning tub. Larger articles would not be discharged through the clearances provided.

The bellows agitating unit is positioned een- 50 trally with respect to the spinner tub 5 and is generally indicated by the reference numeral I3.

l This agitator unit is best understood by referring to Figs. 1 and 2 and comprises a main housing I4 having a box base I5 with parallel upstanding 55 sides I8 and I1. A bearing I3 supports the housing I4 through connection with the bottom of the box base I5, this bearing I8 being journalled for rotation upon -a vertical axis within the upper end of the driving sleeve 20 suitably secured in 60 water tight contact with the spinner tub 5. Bear-` ing I3 also includes suitable sealing means and has rings 2| to prevent leakage of water from within the tub 5 through the bearing structure I8 and into the interior of the driving sleeve 20. 65

vA pair of oppositely related ilaps 22 and 23 providing closure members for the housing I4 are pivotally supported upon a cross pin 24 extending between the upper portions of the side walls I6 and I'I of the housing I4. These swingable flaps 70 22 and 23 are provided with side aprons 25 and 26, respectively, that are positioned parallel to and closely adjacent the side walls I3 and I1.

vAlthough the sides 25-'25 of the flap 22 can be oflset or formed to meet the sides of the housing 75 to the sides to flll the gaps as best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 7. Each of the flaps 22 and 23 are also provided with skirts or arcuate bottoms 21 and 23 which are concentrically formed with respect to the axial center of the supporting pin 24. The upper ends ofthe flaps 22 and 23 terminate in concentrically shaped overlapping ends 29 and 30 as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

Thus the flaps 22 and 23 provide elongated cup or trough members cooperating with the `housing I4 and forming, together with the box base I5 of the housing, a bellows structure wherein the flaps 22 and 23 may be moved from their full line positions in Fig. 2 into the dotted line positions indicated without providing any denite water bypass from within the tub into the bellows strueture or from within the bellows structure into the water column within the tub.

There is communication between the inside of the bellows structure and the water column within the tub 5, however, which is brought about by providing suitable holes in the surface portion of the flaps. These holes may be arranged in predetermined patterns and may be of such selected diameters as to best suit conditions of operation. the holes in flap 22 being indicated at 3| and the holes in nap 23 being indicated at 32. In this connection it may be stated that it is also contemplated to use holes located in the side aprons 25 and 26 of the ilaps several of which are indicated at 33 and 34 in Fig. 2. Obviously, suction of water into the holes in the flaps 25 and 2'6 upon expansion of the bellows will draw water into the bellows structure only when the openingsin the side aprons are uncovered when moved beyond the outline of the sides I6 and I'I of the housing I4. Likewise, expulsion of water through such openings in the side aprons will be stoppedwhen the bellows are collapsing by movement of Y the flaps as such openings again pass within the restrictive connes of the sides of the housing I4.

The operating mechanism for simultaneously moving the flaps 22 and 23 apart and to draw the same together again to operate between the two positions indicated in Fig. 2, is also best illustrated iu Fig. .2. This mechanism includes a drive shaft 35 passing through a bored opening l38 axially located within the bearing I3. This drive shaft -35 also passes through a water seal or a stuiling box 31 positioned at the upper end of the bearing I B for the purpose of preventing water leakage through the shaft bearing and along the main drive shaft.

The upper end of the drive shaft 35 terminates in a pair of cranks 38 and 39 and the stub end 40 of the shaft is .iournalled in a bearing 4I secured to a cross member 42 extending between the sides I6 and I'I of the housing I4. Connecting links 43 and 44 have ends pivoted at 45 and 43 to the flaps 22 and 23 respectively, while the connecting link 43 is pivotally joined with the crank 33 and the connecting link 44 is pivotally joined with the crank 33 of the main drive shaft 35.

It is seen from the description above that rotation of shaft 35 imparts simultaneous, opening and closing respectively of the flaps 22 and 23 with respect to the housing structure I4 producing the expanding and contracting action of the entire agitator bellows head thereby increasing or decreasing the internal capacity of the agitator. Upon the expansion stroke of the bellows. more water will be drawn from the tub water column ananas into the bellows structure acting to draw the clothes toward the flaps while the flaps are moving outwardly to engage and contact the clothes and adjacent water in the tub. Conversely, contracting of the bellows will cause the water that is trapped within the bellows to ej ect in streams or jets through the openings 3| and 32 of the flaps 22 and 23 respectively, forcing the clothes away from the receding naps during this portion of the cycle of operation of the bellows structure.

The ejection of water can also be carried to the box base structure I5 of the housing |4 by providing suitable openings or holes 45a therein as indicated in Fig. 2 which may extend about the periphery of the box base I5. Any water which is expelled out of these openings will diverge along the bottom of the tub 5 and function to turn over clothes and prevent any stagnant situation to develop wherein the clothes may become dormant in this part of the tub.

In addition to the foregoing operation the entire bellows structure is pivotally supported upon the,

axial bearing I8 as previously described therefore providing a free moving head capable of rotation upon the axial center line portion of the tub and the machine. This motion of the head may or may not be controlled depending upon conditions of operation. In the present construction of agitator unit, it is contemplated to use a pair of flaps or fins 41 and 48 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which are pivotally supported at oppositely related corners 48 and 58 of the bellows flaps 22 and 23. The fins 41 and 48 are provided with lugs 5| and 52 respectively, which limit the motion of such iins in counterclockwise rotation when viewed in Fig. 3 but which are arranged to permit counterclockwise rotation of the fins into the dotted line positions 41a and 48a as indicated in this figure:

The flat faces of the fins engage the faces of the iiaps to limit the maximum water engaging position of the ns indicated in the full line positions in Fig. 3.

From the description immediately above, it is seen that in Figs. 3 and 4 the ns 41 and 48 provide a paddle structure wherein the alternate openingr and closing of the two bellows flaps 22 and 23 will also cause the fins to move repeatedly back and forth from the full line positions to their dotted line positions while the flaps 22 and 23 are actuated. When the ilaps 22 and 23 open or expand with respect to the remainder of the bellows structure the fins 41 and 48 will be as shown in the full line positions in Fig. 3 bucking the water producing a torque force which will tend to rotate the entire bellows head in the direction of the arrow 55, the water force being diagrammatically illustrated by the arrows 55 and 51. When the flaps 22 and 23 return toward their full line positions as shown in Fig. 2, the fins 41 and 48 will backwater and rotate into their dotted line positions leaving the head in its new angular location with respect to the one immediately prior to the opening and closing of the flaps as described. f

Referring back now to Figs. 1 and 2, the shaft 35 for operating the expanding and contracting bellows mechanism extends downwardly through the drive sleeve 2|) of the spinning tub 5 through a hub bearing 50 and is driven by meansof a motor 3 through the motor pulley 5|, belt 52,

and the drive pulley 53 secured to the shaft 35. Any suitable drive ratio may be obtained through this drive which is a direct drive from the motor to a single operating shaft located vertically in the axial center line of the washing machine.

A clutch which may be of any desirable construction is indicated at 54 and comprises a plurality of annular driving rings 55 carried for vertical movement upon the driving pins 55 supported from the housing 51' which is secured to the driving sleeve 20 of the spinner tub 5. A plurality of driving discs 58 are secured to the drive shaft 35 and occupy positions between the annular rings 55 in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 2. Pins 55 terminate in suitable heads 59 and 58a and expansion springs 10 normally tend to urge all of the annular rings 55 into tight engagement with respect to the discs 58. An annular operating face plate 1| is slidably carried upon the outer diameter of the driving sleeve 2|| and abuts the heads 68a of the pins 55 to provide a means for holding the clutch in inoperative position to permit the shaft 35 to drive' the bellows structure directly from the motor 3 through the pulley 5|, belt 52 and pulley 53.

When the time comes that the spinner tub is to be operated, the same may be rotated at relatively high speed to sling all of the water and suds from the clothes that have just been washed within said tub. This is accomplished by moving a clutch operating handle 12 that is mounted upon the base I and thus rotate a rod 13 carrying a cam 14. The cam 14 engages the end 15 of a rocker arm 15, the latter carrying rolls 11 which normally ride upon the upper surface of the face plate 1|. When the handle l2 is moved into Oi position, the cam 14 is upended to hold the rocker arm 15 in a position with the roller 11 forcing the face plate 1| downwardly to free all of the annular rings 55 from any driving contact with the discs 58. By rotating the handle 12 into its On position, all of the springs 10 actuate the rods-55 to clamp the annular rings 55 against the driving di-sc 58 to complete the drive from the main drive shaft 35 through the clutch to the driving sleeve 20 of the tub 5.

It is natural that the tub 5 and its load of clothes will require a certain interval of time to cause such tub 5 and its driving sleeve 20 to come up to the driving speed of the shaft 35. This difference of rotational speed will be accommodated by the clutch 54 which will eventually automatically reduce the slip between the driving discs 58 and annular rings 55 to solid uniform rotation within a short space of time whereupon the entire tub, clothes, and agitator head are all rotated in synchronism.

During the operation of the washing machine the valve Il is opened by the user through the operation of the handle l2 immediately after the washing operation interval has been completed permitting a quick drain of the water and suds within the tub 5. Thereafter the spinning operation follows and it is to be noted that during the spinning of the tub 5 the user is entirely protected from contact with the same by reason of the nested and protected relation of the tub 5 within the drain tub 4 and the location of this spinner tub 5 under the lid 6 completely enclosing this fast moving structure. In this connection it may be stated that it is also contemplated using a plug or drain unit 88 to drain the tub 5 before the spinning operation should that be desirable.

Other modifications and changes are contemplated in the exact construction shown and described thus far. Figs. 6 and '1 show a modified construction wherein the flaps 22 and 23 are provided with angular faces 8| and 82, respectively, which produce the torque reaction indicated by the arrows 8Ia and 82a when suchilaps expand whereby the entire agitator head is rotated in the direction of the arrow 83. With the latter construction, it is possible to omit the iins 41 and 48 previously described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4 and still obtain the slow angular displacement ofthe bellows operating unit to obtain a full 360 of agitated action within the water column of the tub. Obviously, the degree of angularity of the faces 8l and 82 with respect to a radial plane intersecting the operating center of the agitator head will determine the speed at which such head is rotated upon its pivotal axis. Also, the holes as previously described and indicated at 8| and 32 may be drilled to direct the water jets coming out of the flaps 22 and 23 in any desirable direction. In other words, the openings may be drilled at right angles to the faces of the surfaces 8l and 82 or at any desirable angle with respect thereto, or radially to the pivotal axis.

Another construction that may be utilized in obtaining the angular displacement of the agitator head is illustrated in Fig. 8. In this case, the b ox base I5 of the housing I4 has oppositely related groups of openings to produce repulsion jets of water directed in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the axial center of the supported agitator head. Fig. 8 illustrates the box structure I5 as being provided with openings 84 to one side of the transverse vertical median plane 85 of the agitator head, and also with openings 86 in the wall I1 all located to the opposite side of the transverse vertical median plane 85. The operation of this form of agitator head is obvious. Every time the ilaps 22 and 28 come together to compress the water within the bellows agitator, the water is forced out of the oppositely related openings 84 and 86 producing repulsion jets which tend to rotate the entire head bodily in the clockwise direction of the arrow 81.y Expansion of the flaps 22 and 23 merely draws water into these openings having v very little, if any, eiTect upon therotational position of the agitator head.

Other modifications and changes in the exact form. combination of parts, and in the exact arand reaction means carried by said housing member to bodily move the housing member and the closure member about the pivotal axis o said housing member.

rangement of the described washing machine are contemplated. All such changes and modiilcations or substitution of equivalent mechanisms to perform the functions explained shall -be governed by the breadth and scope of the appended claims submitted herewith.

What I claim is:

1. In a washing machine, an agitator for use in the iluid tub thereof comprising a housing with lateral openings including flaps supported for movement into and out of said lateral openings of said housing, operative means to expand and contract the iiuid capacityof said housing, said housing and said a'ps each having prelocated apertures therein to alternately direct fluid jets into the tub iluid and to draw tub duid toward and into said housing upon operation of said operative means.

2.' An agitator for a washing machine comprising a pivotally supported housing member submerged in the wash water and having an opening therein, a closure member movably connected with said housing member and adapted to substantially close off said opening therein. operative mechanism connected to one of said members to actuate it relatively to the other of said members to alternately produce suction and pressure areas in the water surrounding said members,

3. An agitator for a washing machine comprising a pivotally supported housing member submerged in the wash water and having an opening therein, a closure member movably connected with said housing member and adapted to substantially close oil' said opening therein. operative mechanism connected to actuate one of said members relatively to the other of said members to alternately produce suction and pressure areas in the water surrounding said members, and water reaction means connected with one oi' said members to provide rotary motion to said housing about its pivotal support while said members are relatively actuated by said operative mechanism.

4. An agitator for a washing machine tub oomprising a housing pivotally supported within said tub, said housing having an opening therein, closure members connected with said housing and movably relatively thereto, said closure members being positioned at said housing opening, and operative mechanism for moving said closure members simultaneously away from or toward each other to alternately increase or decrease the water capacity of said housing and to agitate the wash water surrounding said housing, and reaction means responsive to the relative motion of the closure members with respectv to the housing to impart rotational motionv of said housing about its pivotal support within said tub.

5. An agitator fora washing machine tub comprising a housing submerged in the wash water,

bearing means pivotally supporting said housing for free rotation relative to said tub, operative water agitating means movably connected i with said housing, and drive mechanism conilned within said housing and connected to said agitating means to actuate the same, said mechanism including a drive member passing through said bearing means outwardly of said tub for connection with an external power source.

, 6. An agitator for a washing machine tub comprising a housing submerged in the wash water, bearing means pivotally supporting said housing for free rotation relative to said tub, operative water agitating means movably connected with said housing, drive mechanism confined within said housing and connected to actuate said a8i' tating means including a drive member passing through said bearing means outwardly of said tub for connection with -an external power source, and water reaction means connected with said agitating means to angularly displace said housing relatively to said tub while said agitating means is operated by said drive mechanism.

7. An agitator for a washing machine tub comprising a housing submerged in the water, bearing means pivotally supporting said housing for free rotation relative to said tub, operative water agitating means movablyl connected with said housing, comprising aps supported from said housing to move relatively inwardly and outwardly with respect to the pivotal axis of said housing, drive mechanism connected to so operate said ilaps, and reaction means to angularly displace said housing relatively to said tub while said iiaps are being operated, said reaction means comprising outer surfaces on said iiaps angularly disposed with respect to radial planes bisecting the pivotal axis of said housing.

said lhousing comprising flaps supported from *said housing to move relatively inwardly and outwardly with respect to the pivotal axis of said housing, drive mechanism connected to so operate said flaps, and reaction means to angularly displace said housing relatively to said tub while said flaps are being operated, said reaction means comprising fins pivotally connected with said flaps and arranged to buck the wash Water when said flaps are actuated in one direction and to pivotally recede into inactive positions with respect to the wash water when the flaps are actuated in the other direction.

9. An agitator for a washing machine tub comprising a housing submerged in the wash water, bearing means pivotally supporting said housing for free rotation relative to said tub, operative water agitating means movably connected with said housing comprising naps supported from said housing to move relatively inwardly and outwardly with respect to the pivotal axis of said housing, drive mechanism connected to so operate said naps, and reaction means to angularly displace said housing relatively to said tub while said flaps are being operated, said reaction means comprising a plurality of apertures in said housing adapted to eject wash water from said housing under the composite action of said aps when same are actuated in one direction, said apertures being formed in opposite side walls of said housing, the apertures in one wall all being disposed to one side of a vertical transverse median plane of the housing and the apertures in the other wall all being disposed to the other side of the aforesaid plane.

10. A washing .machine agitator comprising a hollow housing having openings therein, flaps connected to said housing to swing about a common axis into and out of said openings, said flaps comprising at members having aprons thereon coacting with the sides of said housing, the outer ends of said aps being formed with skirts disposed concentrically with respect to the axis about which the naps swing, and said flaps having overlapping walls adjacent the supporting axis thereof, said aprons, skirts and overlapping walls all functioning to maintain the hollow inclosure f said housing, and operating mechanism to actuate aid flaps between predetermined angular limi 11. A washing machine agitator comprising a hollow housing having openings therein, flaps connected to said housing to swing about a common axis into and out of said openings, said naps comprising nat members having aprons thereon coacting with the sides of said housing, the outer ends of said flaps being form'ed with skirts disposed concentrically with respect to the axis about which the flaps swing, said naps having overlapping walls adjacent the supporting axis 10 thereof, said aprons, skirts and overlapping walls all functioning to maintain the hollow inclosure of said housing, and operating mechanism to actuate said flaps between predetermined angular limits, and apertures in said iiaps and housing :o expel jets of water therefrom and to draw wash water toward and into said housing.

12. In a washing machine, a stationary casing, a rotatable tub in said casing, an agitator in said tub, said agitator comprising a housing having opposed perforated walls hinged to swing toward or from each other, means extending into said housing for actuating said perforated walls and means for rotating said tub.

13. In a washing machine, a stationary casing, a rotatable tub in said casing, an agitator in said tub comprising a walled housing, means to mount opposed walls of said housing to swing toward and from each other to produce a bellows action and means for simultaneously rotating said tub and actuating said swingable wall parts.

14. In a washing machine, a casing; a rotatable tub in said casing, an agitator in said tub comprising a housing having rigid side walls and movable end walls having flanges in telescopic relation with said side walls, said end walls being adapted for movement toward and from each other to produce a bellows effect, said housing having perforations in said movable end walls and means for rotating said tub and simultaneously actuating said movable end walls.

15. In a washing machine, a casing, a tub rotatable in said casing, an agitator in said tub comprising a housing having opposed swingable wall parts adapted to be swung toward and from each other to produce a bellows effect, movable flaps without said housing connected to said movable wall parts and means for rotating said tub and simultaneously actuating said wall parts for the purpose set forth.

16. In a washing machine, a stationary casing, a rotatable tub in said casing, an agitator in said tub, said agitator comprising a housing having rigid side walls and movable end walls, said end walls having bottom and side ilanges in telescopic relation with said side walls, said end walls and flanges having perforations for entrance and exit of vwashing uid, and means for rotating said tub and simultaneously actuating said movable end walls for the purpose set forth.

NICHCLAS L. ETTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PAI'EN'TS 

